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In honor of Pride month, we're celebrating with brand new episodes every week!
This week, Priya chats with Vishaal Reddy, an actor, writer and producer. Vishaal is also the star and creator of the new limited series, "Insomnia," about a bisexual Indian man who moonlights as an escort.
In this episode, we chat with Vishaal Reddy, the star and creator of the new limited series, "Insomnia," about a bisexual Indian man who moonlights as an escort. Vishaal talks about the real-life incident behind the inception of the show, and the lack of representation that drove him to write it. Priya and Vishaal discuss the (absence of) on-screen portrayal of South Asian sexuality and desirability, and Vishaal delves into the research behind depicting sex work on the show. Priya then asks about Vishaal's experiences as a bisexual man and how those inspired his character. Later, Vishaal talks about weaving various cultural aspects into the character, and what messages he hopes the audience takes from the show. The two wrap up with what Pride means to them now, Vishaal's advice for his younger self and unintentional (yummy!) dessert advice.
About the guest:
Vishaal Reddy is an actor, writer, and producer from Tennessee and based in NYC. He received his undergraduate degree at Boston University. He was recently selected as one of 2019 Tribeca Film Festival Creator N.O.W. creators. Upon moving to NYC, he was a part of numerous Off-Broadway plays and musicals, while also delving into the television/film world. His recent credits include The Punisher , Bull , and Big Dogs. Feeling frustrated with the industry's portrayal of Indian characters, he started writing and producing his own screenplays and sketches. His ultimate goal is to use Insomnia as a platform to launch a production company, focusing on the stories of Asian Americans and people in the LGBTQ community.
You can follow Vishaal on Twitter (@ReddySetGo1) and Instagram (@reddy2rumble).
[Queering Desi logo: Nafeesa Alibhai and Sabina Pang]